Page 7 of Victory for Vampires

I can’t find anythingtosay. I’ve taken lovers since I last saw him—blood and sex are too connected for vampires. But no short-lived dalliance could ever be what I have with him and Pietro. That’s why I couldn’t take that male from the bar home. There’s something so familiar, so easy and deep with males I’ve known my entire life. I need more ofthat.

I don’t answer his question, though. Instead, I pose one of my own. “Where’s Pietro?”

Alessandro straightens, scarlet eyes flashing with what I imagine is amusement. “Working. I’ll drop you at the AnnabelleInn, but he’ll be around for dinner. Perhaps you should send him a sexy little message through your bond, eh?”

When he winks, I blush, but my focus goes to the bond with Pietro. Now, lazy swirls of heat fill it, tightening my body. He knows Alé has me.

Alé turns and secures my bag to the back of his moped. Reaching out, he takes my hand and pulls me carefully onto the seat in front of him. The moped is designed for two riders, but I still find myself cocooned within large, muscular arms that feel at once familiar and new.

Hologram communication never does him justice. In person, everything about him is…more. Bigger, sexier, more delicious. Confident and charming but genuine and rock-steady. Alé is perfection.

He pats my thigh. “Do you have a headscarf, amore?”

“Frontmost pocket of my bag,” I say over my shoulder. The sound of him rustling through my bag drifts forward.

Big hands come to my scalp and card my hair back into a low ponytail. I hold it in place as he drapes the headscarf over my hair. When I drop my head forward to give him access, I tense at the vulnerable position. Having Alé’s warm body behind me like this, focused on me? I can’t wait for dinner.

He leans forward, his muscular chest pressed to my back as he ties the headscarf at the base of my neck. Warm lips come to a spot at the top of my shoulder and press, sending a flash of heat through me. Alé brings his mouth to my ear. “Hold on tight, amore.”

With a quick rev, we jerk into motion, taking off up a wide street.

Brisk wind buffets my face, but he keeps the speed pleasant enough for me to take in our surroundings. I studied a map of this haven, Ever, before I arrived. The portal station sits within Shifter Hollow, a section of town dedicated to shifters, centaursand pegasi. Everything here is built with those monsters in mind, something to consider as I begin planning another haven. I’ll need to spend some time in this part of the haven, comparing it to the main downtown area that has a more traditional layout.

Twenty minutes later, dense redwood forest gives way to a smattering of buildings.

Alessandro pats my thigh carefully. When I look, he points to a darling three-story coffee shop to our right.

“Higher Grounds, our shop.” He points ahead. “The Annabelle is just there across from the Community Garden where the pixies live. Our pixie dust is made there.” He gestures to the side. “Most of the other establishments are that way, heading out of town.”

I resist the urge to hop off the moped and go see Pietro now. Gods know I’d like to. The last time we parted nearly killed all three of us. So many tears. But now I’m here. And it has been far too long. Eight years and seventeen days since I’ve seen them. Now that I’m safely within the cocoon of Alé’s arms, it’s terrible to consider leaving.

Alessandro presses us forward, crossing a big street. I glance around in wonder. It’s lined with buildings, monsters of all species walking up and down the sidewalks. I’m so excited to learn more about this haven. Its appearance is far different from my home haven or Hearth HQ. Homey in a very retro, American way.

Moments later, we pull up in front of a beautiful two-story pink building with white gingerbread trim and white shutters. A sign naming her The Annabelle Inn sits on the corner. A street full of homes sits just past the Annabelle, a brightly colored garden visible across the street.

The front doors swing open in greeting, white shutters waggling a happy hello.

I smile and wave to the inn as Alessandro helps me off the moped.

He leans down and presses a tender kiss to my cheek. “Welcome to Ever, Valentina.”

5

PIETRO

Ipour a cup of coffee, fingers trembling slightly. She’s here, somewhere in the same haven as us. The coffee spills over the edge, dribbling hot down my fingers as I hiss and gnash my fangs at my clumsiness. After setting the pot back on the heater, I wipe my hands on my pants as Alé comes out of the storeroom.

He dropped her off hours ago so she could get settled before her meetings. I haven’t even seen her yet.

She’s been busy and focused; I’ve felt that.

My brother bumps me with his hip. “Tell me what she’s feeling right now.”

It’s a game we like to play, since he can’t yet feel her through a bond between them.

“She’s excited,” I whisper. “Ready to see us.”

Alé lets out a soft, needy groan, eyes rolling back in his head as he grins. When he’s done with that, he brings his focus to mine. “Seeing her is like coming home. I cannot wait to watch you both when she sees you for the first time.”

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